A friend in Japan on Facebook wrote in her status update that she was reprimanded for arriving to work after the bell. But, that was only once that she was ever late. It got me thinking about the Japanese mentality for perfection. Its not just about arriving on time, its about conforming to every aspect of the work method/process to a mark of 100%. Not merely passing the 70% passing rate, or even right at the dot of 99%, but all should aspire to achieve 100%. If The Karate Kid (a 1984 movie) was made in Japan, probably the Master would share in more precise detail how the floor should be scrubbed in 1000 strokes such that in order for the task to be completed, all time tested strokes need to be followed 100%.
I had a glimpse of Japanese perfection when I was asked by my Japanese manager to take the Life Insurance exam (一般課程) that all employees in the company would be taking. I was optimistic and agreed that I would give it a try and improve my knowledge at the same time. Since my position and renumeration was not at junior level, I was pressured to take the exam without much time to study. So there I was with the Japanese text books and Japanese sample exam papers all in Japanese. I could not read them as 80% of the Japanese characters and vocabulary was new to me. With just 1 month left, I have to make an impossible study plan and pray. I asked my wife to transcribe in just 1 day the sample exam into basic Japanese alphabets (hiragana) so I could type it into a soft copy document. I used a software to interprete the document and could have an English text of the exam. That helped in memorising through understanding each exam question and answers in foreign Japanese characters. The result was in 1 month, I passed at 70%! It was a miracle from God for sure. He didn't want me to fail so soon. :) When my manager knew of my result, he said it was not up to the 100% mark.
It is indeed shocking and can be said to be less gracious for someone to be expecting 100% from another. Besides the lack of kindness, it is very much part of how the Japanese have been trained to be good incrementally at whatever they do. That is how they can achieve constant improvement or kaizen. That is the proven success they now enjoy. A modern society built upon such principles and many other societies have to some extent such expectations of precision too. The Japanese has this in mind when doing business with foreigners as well. The Karate Kid Master did not want any excuses. Just a desire of his student to meet the mark by constant practice till it is perfected. Only once it is perfected, can the student have pride in his own efforts.
As a manager, it is tough to share to your subordinate that you only expect 100%. The intentions are good, but the journey would be difficult for the other. I think what is needed is that the manager would need to assure the subordinate that he understands the difficulty and would be supportive and appreciative of every effort towards hard work and dedication. That the path to greener pastures is not far away. Thank God I can look forward to greener pastures soon as well.
(Photos show petting of the penquin and others including dolphins and whales for free at the Fureai Lagoon, Hakkeijima Sea Paradise)
2 comments :
i guess the tip for parents then is to likewise not rigidly expect their kids to perform 100% all the time...
i think the more proper value to inculcate into the child is an attitude to strive for excellence rather than perfection and to do it progressively...
your Japanese boss is unfortunately not as enlightened... maybe he needs go go back to school so that he gets it 100% right on what the spirit of kaizen is really all about... haha :)
but this is Japan... too many are to stuck in their old ways of thinking (mindlessly)... look at their economuy and politics...
anyway hang in there
cheers!
In kaizen, interestingly it is continuous improvement from 1 steady state into another steady state. The Japanese also inculcate research and customer evaluation and they only strive to give the customer the best - 100% quality before they listen to their views if they are satisfied. The mentality is that only when you give 100%, you deserve good communication and relationship. Same as the employee who has to give 100% before gaining the right to speak, or the student who gets respect from his master only after attaining 100%.
I think there are no clearcut answers if we should expect 100% from our children. Each child is different and some will grow better with a parent who grooms them for 100%, while others grow better with more play and freedom.
I have done hanging on, and is glad that I can finally taste a little of the fruits of my labor and now leave Japan for greener pastures and be back only to enjoy Japan on holiday from the Japanese' fruits of labour each day.
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